A new numerical invariant of knots induced from their regular diagrams (Q757896)

The author introduces a numerical invariant of knots, O(K), from their diagrams. For a knot K, K is defined to have an n-trivial diagram if there exist a diagram \(\tilde K\) of K and a family of mutually disjoint nonempty sets \(A_ 1,...,A_ n\) of crossings in \(\tilde K\) such that for every nonempty subfamily \(A_{j_ 1},...,A_{j_ i}\) the diagram obtained from \(\tilde K\) by changing all the crossings of \(A_{j_ 1}\cup...\cup A_{j_ i}\) is a trivial knot diagram. If a knot K has an n-trivial diagram and no m-trivial diagrams for \(m>n\), O(K) is defined to be n. If a knot K has an n-trivial diagram for any natural number n, O(K) is defined to be \(\infty\), e.g. \(O(U)=\infty\) for a trivial knot U. For every natural number n, the author gives an example of an n-trivial tangle, and furthermore gives a necessary condition for knots to have an n-trivial tangle in terms of Conway polynomials. The consecutive work of the author and \textit{Y. Ogushi} can be found in ``On the triviality index of knots'' [Tokyo J. Math. 13, No.1, 179-190 (1990; Zbl 0714.57003)].